Nixon Enters the Hospital For Treatment of Phlebitis

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Mr. Nixon arrived by Auto. mobile at about 4:40 P.M., Ne'w York time, from his estate in San Clemente, about 50 miler. south, for a projected one‐week stay. He was accompanied by a smiling Mrs. Nixon and their younger daughter, Julie Nixon Eisenhower.

Ronald L. Ziegler, the former White House press secretary and still an aide to Mr. Nixon, was asked at a news conference whether Mr. Nixon would be ,able to respond to court subpoenas in Watergate‐related cases.

“I don't’ think this is the occasion to discuss impending court action,” Mr. Ziegler re. sponded. “The fact that the President is here in the hospital has no bearing on that particular question.”

When a reporter, Mary Neifwender of The Long Beach Independent Press Telegraph, asked Mr. Nixon how he felt, he replied, “Good morning, ood afternoon.”

He was said to have bowed slightly before continuing to walk unsupported, with Mrs. Nixon and Mrs. Eisenhower flanking him to a service elevator that took him to his room on the hospital's sixth floor.

Two police cars and a hovering helicopter were in front of the main entrance in an apparent move to keep newsmen from a close view or Mr. Nixon. Secret Service agents also blocked off access.

A plainclothes security man was accused by Dick Smith, a television cameraman for the National Broadcasting Company, of breaking a lens as he tried to film Mr. Ninon.

Mr. Nixon was described by his physician, Dr. John C. Lungren, as physically fatigued.

Mr. Ziegler said that Dr. Lungren had insisted for the last week that Mr. Nixon go to the hospital.

Dr. Lungren said in a statement at the conference that there were two purposes ‘for Mr. Nixon's hospitalization.

The first, he said, was to begin treatment of. the phlebitis with blood‐thinning anticoagulant drugs.

The second, he said, was “to cond'uct exhaustive studieS in an attempt, to identify the primary causative agent or agents of this original nontraumatic phlebitis.”

Phlebitis can be caused by a number of conditions, one of which is a hidden cancer.

Dr. Lungren said he would issue daily written bulletins that would adhere strictly to the confidentiality of the patient‐doctor relationship.

“Accordingly,” he said, “such items as the progress of therapy, treatment,.medication ‘usage, new develoPments, ‘all Will be reported first’ the patient, then to his wife and the immediate family. The with the patient's permission; a public statement be made.”

Mr. Ziegler described Mr. Nixon as “under strain and stress” in the 45‐day postresignation period, during which Mr. Nixon accepted pardon from President Ford and court subpoenas.

“It's not easy to go through what he had to go through,” Mr. Zielger said, He added, “His mind is very acute.”

Mr. Nixon suffered his first attack of phlebitis 10 years ago while on a trip abroad. It flared up again this year during his trip to the Middle East and lingered through his Visit to the Soviet Union last June. The attacks left Mr. Nixon with a post‐phlebitic, or swollen but nonpainful, leg.

Dr. Lungren said that Mr. Nixon had experienced “three episodes of reactivation” since the Middle East trip.

Though worrisome during his foreign trips, Mr. Nixon's phlebitis apparently did not become a major problem until after his resignation Aug 9.

There have since been conflicting reports about hikphys ictd Condition hand state, of mind.

Family members disclosed that a flare‐up of the phlebitis had. dampened Mr. Nixon's spirits.

Maj. Gen. Walter Tkach of the ‘Air Force, chief White House physician in the Nixon Administration, said after a visit to San Clernente 10 days ago that Mr. Nixon‐was “ravaged” and that the former President feared hospitalization because he would not come out alive.

Further, Dr. Tkach: said,’ it would take a miracle to pull Mr. Nixon through.

Mr. Zeigler, asked about reports that Mr. Nixon wad afraid he might die if he entered a hospital, said

“That particular quote occurred during a period where the President's spirits were low and he wanted to be active. That related more to his frame of mind at that time. He wanted to be active and did not want a long hospitalization.”

Dr. Tkach declined to deny report that he had’ not: ‘examined Mr. Nixon's leg It"s he had stated but had merely taken Dr. Lungren's word about Mr. Nixon's state. Dr. Tkach did not return to California as planned for a follow‐up examination.

Plans for Mr. Nixon's rooms changed since his planned admission was announced last Friday.

A hospital'. spokesman said today that the Secret Service had requested two rooms for Mr. Nixon, each costing $90. The hospital blocked off lout adjacent rooms as a security buffet in the 19‐room wingThe hospital is waiving charges for‐the four additional rooms because they were unoccupied anyway, the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that, depending on discharges, four additional moms might be added to the buffer.

The hospital plans to bill Mr. Nixon as it would any other patient. Former Presidents are eligible for care in anytnilitary hospital at Government expense. Presumably, Mr. Nixon's bills would be covered by insurance, if not by the Government, although no one here today was sure about that point.

It was also announced Friday that Dr. Lungren would hold a news confErence today. InStead, he simply, read his brief, statement and departed, leaving Mr. Ziegler to answer reporters’ questions.

DR. LUNGREN'S STATEMENT I am here to make a statement with regard to President Nixon's hospitalization. At the outset, this session or any other press release that will: follow will be conducted strictly within the code: of the doctor patient relationship.

Accordingly, such items as the progress of therapy, treatment, medication usage, new developments, all will be reported first to the patient, then to his wife and his immediate family then with the patient's permission, a public statement will be made.

Nutaber one, to treat.a chronic phlebitis in.acute phase, Which first developed on his trip to the Middle East and which has already had three episodes of reactivation. The treatment Will consist primarily of the introduction of prophylactic’ use of anticoagulent drugs.

Second, to conduct ekhaustive. studies in an attempt to identify the primary causitive agent or agents of this original, tnontraurnatid phlebits.

A version of this archives appears in print on September 24, 1974, on Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: Nixon Enters the Hospital For Treatment of Phlebitis. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe